We are in Woliso, a small rural community in the Guragy Zone, like a county, in the western region of Ethiopia. There is no wi-fi and cell phone service is extremely sporadic. The electrical voltage fluctuates from zero to great surges that creating havoc and great risk for any sensitive technological equipment. Lisa plugged in a surge protector and it was instantly fried. There are limited television stations, including the familiar CNN, but their broadcast has a much different slant, focusing on Europe, China, the Middle East and Africa.
It is strange not being able to turn on my computer and instantly connect with the world. I tried sending Dallas a text but it would not go through. My I powerful I phone has been reduced most of the time to a watch.
Being unplugged has its virtues. I laid in bed reading the Word and listening for God’s voice for over an hour. I received confirmation from the Holy Spirit while reading Psalm 111 that I was exactly where I needed to be at this point in time and so was the entire St. Mathew team. It is hard being away from the family and church body that you love so much and I greatly miss being connected to you, but I remain steadfast in my conviction that God has sent us to this land for a purpose. I do not have a clear vision of the Big Picture, but I trust the One who does and just want us to be obedient to him today.
Today, we will begin training 50 rural pastors and their wives in the concept of being a Missional Church. Claudia, Leigh Ann and Melissa will teach the women, I will share with the men, Lisa Latham will record the sessions and interview various participants so we can share what God is doing through your Birthday Gift to Jesus.
One story. We visited the training sites yesterday afternoon and was a little taken back. Last years training was in a hotel, not what you and I are used to, but there were bathrooms with running water and class room facilities with power to support computer power point presentations. That is not the case at this site. All of our planed teaching aids were quickly deemed useless. We were not discouraged, but each scrambling to discern how we were going to communicate the lessons God had laid upon our hearts. About that time a sea of children engulfed us. They spoke no English. We spoke no Amharic. But in less than a minute we bonded. They played with us, laughed with us, took our hands and walked with us. We bonded. We communicated. Each of us walked away knowing that power point or no power point, God would provide the Holy Spirit and everyone would understand. Not what we wanted to say, but what God wanted them to hear.
We have an amazing God.
